Wire-fence tool



Patented Dec. 1, 18 96.

L. W. ORTON.

WIRE FENCE TOOL.

M- IQ (No Model.)

Inventdr.

Attorney.

\ Vi Lnesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS w. ORT F TEXAS WIRE-FENCE TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,272, dated December 1, 1896.

Application filed July 18,1896. Serial No. 599,684. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS W. ORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bellevue, in the county of Clay and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Fence Tools; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in wire-fence tools, and the object is to provide a simple and durable tool of this class that will combine in one all the tools actually necessary in building or repairing an ordinary wire fence.

To this end the novelty consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the same figures of reference indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved combination wire-fence tool with a portion of the body of the pipe broken away to show the repair cones and cable contained therein. Fig. 2 shows the manner of using the tool as a wire-stretcher. Fig. 3 shows the tool in use to take up the slack in a fencewire. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tool organized as a crowbar or earth-chisel. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same in use as a posthole digger, and Fig. 6 shows its use in repairing parted fence-wires.

1 represents a section of pipe of a suitable length and diameter to be conveniently manipulated by hand. One of its open ends is provided with a detachable clamp having a circular opening 2,two converging arms 3 3 extending into the pipe 1, in which they are removably secured by a thumb-screw 4.

5 is the transverse handle secured in the opening 2, so that when the converging arms are forced into the end of the pipe the handle will be rigidly clamped in the opening, and thus form a transverse bar by which the pipe or tool may be operated.

6 is a rectangular orifice in which is secured a claw 7, the threaded shank 8 of which passes through a diametrically opposite orifice 9 in the pipe, and said claw is removably secured in place by a thumb-nut 10. The shoulder 12 of said claw is rectangular in shape-to correspond to the orifice 6, so that the claw may be inserted from the right or the left hand side. When in use, its rectangular shoulder prevents the tool from twisting or turning in the pipe.

13 is a wrench having an elongated handle 14, which passes through the diametrical orifices 15 15 in the pipe 1, and its end is provided with a ring 16, which prevents the handle becoming accidentally detached from the pipe. The office of this wrench, outside'of its general utility as a wrench, is when it acts as a pawl after a line of wire has been stretched to a post by the claw and pipe. The handle of the wrench is dropped down parallel with the post, and it then acts as a pawl or dog to prevent the pipe untwisting, as shown in Fig. 2.

17 18 are two longitudinal slots in the end 19 of the pipe 1, arranged in the same diametrical plane, and when a section of the fence wire is slack the wire is inserted in the slots, and by turning the pipe to the right or left by means of the handle 5, as shown in Fig. 3, the slack may be taken up and held by a short splice-wire 20, the ends of which are secured to the fence-wire on both sides of the pipe.

21 is a chisel-point having shoulder 22 and shank 23, which fits into the end 19 of the pipe, and is removably secured therein by a bolt 24, said bolt also passing through the.

shanks 25 of the shovel-bits 26 27 which are also provided with orifices 28, by means of which the said shovel bits or blades may be conveniently secured to the pipe when not in use, as shown in Fig. 4, while in Fig. 5 the tool is shown with the chisel-bit removed and the shovel bits or blades in position for digging a post-hole.

29 and 30 are sheet-metal cones, their orifices being connected by a flexible wire cable 31, and on this cable are strung two solid-wire rings 32 This attachment, when not in use, is carried inside of the pipe 1, and when in use, as shown in Fig. 6, the cones are stretched apart, and the opposite ends of a broken wire are inserted in the rings 32 32, which are then slipped outwardly on each cone, so as to clamp the ends of the broken wire on each cone. The end 19 of the pipe 1 is then applied to the Wire cable connecting the cones by inserting said cable in the slots 17 18, and using the handle 5 as a lever the pipe is turned to the right or left, drawing the cones together until the broken ends of the fence-wire are brought close enough together to splice.

Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrangement of the several elements of my invention, I do not desire to be confined to the same, as such changes or modifications may be made as clearly fall Within the scope of my invention Without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

1. In a Wire-fence tool, the sleeve or pipe 1, one end of Which is provided with a detachable clamp in which is secured the transverse handle 5, and provided with the rectangular orifice 6, in which to removably secure the reversible claw 7, the orifices 15, in Which to secure the Wrench 13 having elongated handle; its end 19 formed with longitudinal slots 17 and 18, adapted to operate the Wire cable 31 and the rings and cones; the pipe adapted to carry also the chisel-bit 21, and the shovelblades 26 and 27 to be removably secured in said end 19 by a bolt 24:, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The pipe 1, provided with the transverse handle 5, and having its opposite end 19 formed with longitudinal slot-s 17 and 18, in combination With the flexible Wire cable 31, having loose solid rings 32 and 33, and the cones 29 and 30 secured to its opposite ends, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LEWIS W. ORTON. \Vitnesses:

JOHN J. CLICK, '1. F. MAJOR. 

